The majority of oilseed rape crops are now looking stronger atfour to six true leaves. Slug attack has remained low and nitrogenhas been applied to seed-beds which has helped growth. Leaf minorcan still be found on older leaves of early-drilled rape, but newerleaves and later drilled crops are fine. Because of the very dryweather Phoma has been difficult to find. But pressure is startingto increase and close monitoring is advised. Flushes of difficultblackgrass will need to be addressed soon when soils become wetterand cooler. Pigeons are present in other crops but yet to be aproblem in rape.

Like the wheat, barley has been slow to emerge. With feweractives available, grassweed control in barley is extremelydifficult. The most reliable approach is to use pre-emergence orearly post-emergence applications. This job must take priority ascontact grassweed products are very limited.